three to four months of trial, a special room to judge in 2025 the anesthetist suspected of 30 poisonings

The trial of Doctor Frédéric Péchier, referred to the Assize Court of Besançon (Doubs), will take place from September to December 2025. The doctor is being prosecuted for 30 poisonings, 12 of which were fatal. His trial is expected to take place in a classified room at the courthouse.

It's a date that has been awaited for months. Doctor Frédéric Péchier should be tried from September 15 to the end of December 2025, according to information from BFMTV. The indictment order, issued by the two investigating judges in charge of the case, is now final.The former anesthetist is referred to the Besançon Assize Court for the poisoning of 30 patients, 12 of whom proved fatal, between 2008 and 2017, in Besançon (Doubs).

The referral of Doctor Péchier to the Assize Court was expected by the numerous civil parties in the case as well as by the former anesthetist himself. After an investigation closed in February 2024, the public prosecutor of Besançon made his final indictment in May. And it was in August that Frédéric Péchier was fired before the Doubs assizes, a referral which had not been contested by the defense.

As a reminder, Frédéric Péchier is suspected of having polluted, between 2008 and 2017, the infusion bags of patients in two private clinics in Besançon to cause cardiac arrests. He was indicted for “premeditated poisoning” in March 2017. The sprawling investigation led to the exhumation of bodies for analysis, before his indictment for 17 new cases of serious adverse events (SAEs). , in 2019.

Also read: 30 suspected poisonings, 12 deaths: the prosecution requests a trial for Besançon anesthesiologist Frédéric Péchier

The accused, since the beginning of the investigation, has denied any involvement in the poisoning. Contacted by France 3 Franche-Comté, his lawyer, Randall Schwerdorffer, recalls the line of defense that will be developed at the trial: “Doctor Pandchiis denies any involvement in any of the 30 acts with which he is accused, whether these facts are accidental or voluntary.” The anesthetist admitted medical errors, but no intent to cause harm.

In 2019, Frédéric Péchier was banned from practicing his profession, before being able to practice medicine again, but under conditions. Today, his main lawyer says “concentrate” on the prospect of a trial. “It’s time for him to arrive. He’s waiting for his trial, he’s working, he’s taking over the whole file. I find that he remains combative, we have come out of the very dark period”reacts Randall Schwerdorffer, in reference to his client's suicide attempt, in October 2021.

He is someone who is not doing well, since these accusations against him, his life has been so disrupted that it has never been good since his indictment.

Randall Schwerdorffer, lawyer for Frédéric Péchier

The former anesthetist's lawyer does not hide the fact that he intends to uncover new evidence from the investigation. “Il y a a whole bunch of things we never talked about.” New elements that the defense is careful not to specify. “The issues are such lourds that we are not going to communicate about the fund. I reserve them for le procand”reveals Master Schwerdorffer.

For the anesthetist's alleged victims, for the relatives of the people who died or were seriously injured by their poisoning, the prospect of the trial finally being held sounds like a major breakthrough, after years and months of waiting. But it will also be synonymous with painful reminiscences. “Four month of trial, it promises a particularly difficult ordeal”warns Maître Frédéric Berna, lawyer for around fifty civil parties.

For the civil parties, this crystallizes the moment they have been waiting for for a long time. Every month that passes is a painful month, the sooner we can face a trial, the better.

Maître Frédéric Berna, lawyer for the civil parties

In addition, the determination of the defense, which plans to plead acquittal, indicates that this trial will not be the last. “It's just a stepwarns Master Berna. There is a good chance that there will be a second one. It’s the continuation of a difficult fight.”

The Nancy lawyer, who mentions “a thate forecast du 15 september to December 15″not yet confirmed by the Besançon Court of Appeal, is the voice of its customers, disappointed by such a distant prospect. “They were hoping really March, April, so That regrowth of six month. He will have to prepare psychologiwhatment.” “Every month that passes is a painful month, the most early on will be able to confront a trial, the better.”

Admitting that such a trial “must not very simple has put in artwork”Master Berna at the very least expect justice “has the highur of the issue” for one “event trial.” “That advance and it is plus important“he assures.

The trial, which should therefore last between three and four months, promises to be intense for all parties. “Physically, psychologically, intellectually, That va be a test very impressive”advertise Me Schwerdorffer. “Myself, I never knew That”recognizes the criminal lawyer, known in particular for his role in the trials of Jonathann Daval and the Chilean Nicolas Zepeda.

When you are in a criminal trial, you are in a sort of bubble, it is very gripping. We are always focused. There is no downtime in this type of trial.

Randall Schwerdorffer, lawyer for Frédéric Péchier

The Bisontin criminal lawyer expects a historic judicial session from every point of view. “It is huge in terms of name of witnessesen terms of nombre d’expertsfrom case to examiner, in terms ofinvestigators.”

Around a hundred civil parties, around forty witnesses, 15,000 procedure ratings, 60 technical expertises not counting the psychological expertises, “It’s huge”also describes Master Berna.

A historic trial which should therefore be held in an emblematic place in the Besançon courthouse: the Nodier room, also known as the Parliament room of the court of appeal, in reference to the former Parliament of the province of Franche-Comté, located in the old town hall of Besançon, built in 1582.

Currently reserved for solemn hearings, the Parliament hall will have to benefit from a major renovation to accommodate this trial. “It's an impressive room.”testifies Master Schwerdorffer. I did my first sittings there in 2001. It hasn't changed since, it's a very beautiful room, magnificent from an architectural point of view.”

Decorated with a monumental fresco painted 10 meters high on the wooded ceiling, the room will notably have to be equipped with sound to enable the logistics of the current trials which involve the broadcast of sound recordings, videos, and multiple documents from the case. A dedicated setting which promises to be “up to the challenge”.